Harmanpreet Kaur’s team began the Women’s World Cup with a 59-run victory.
After a strong start, India suddenly lost three wickets in one over. Facing the risk of being bowled out before reaching 200, Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur came to the rescue. Their seventh-wicket stand of more than a hundred runs carried the total past 250. Later, with a combined bowling effort, India defeated Sri Lanka to kick off their World Cup campaign in style.
In Guwahati on Tuesday, India won the tournament’s opening match by 59 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. The game, shortened to 47 overs due to rain, saw India post 269 before bowling Sri Lanka out for 211.
Deepti Sharma was the star of the show, contributing with both bat and ball. Coming in at number six, she struck 53 runs with three boundaries, then picked up 3 wickets for 54 runs with her off-spin. Her all-round performance earned her the Player of the Match award. Amanjot Kaur, scoring her maiden ODI fifty, made 57 runs with one six and five fours, putting together a crucial 103-run partnership with Deepti.
For Sri Lanka, nine batters managed to reach double figures, but none converted into a fifty. Captain Chamari Athapaththu top-scored with 43, striking three sixes and four fours.
Batting first after losing the toss, India suffered an early blow in the fourth over when in-form Smriti Mandhana fell for 8 runs (2 fours). Mandhana, who had scored back-to-back centuries against Australia before the tournament, could not continue her form. India recovered thanks to Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol, who built a 67-run stand. Pratika scored 37 with one six and three fours before being dismissed by Inoka Ranaweera.
Inoka turned the game with a brilliant 26th over, taking three wickets. She dismissed Harleen for 48 (six fours), bowled Jemimah Rodrigues next ball, and later had captain Harmanpreet Kaur caught behind for 21 (two fours). Soon after, Richa Ghosh also fell, leaving India struggling at 124 for 6.
From there, Deepti and Amanjot rebuilt the innings. Sri Lanka had four chances to dismiss Amanjot—on 18, 37, 50, and 53—but failed each time. She went on to reach her fifty off 45 balls, while Deepti brought up her 16th ODI half-century in 50 deliveries. At the end, Sneh Rana added a quick cameo, smashing two sixes and two fours for a 15-ball 28.
Chasing 270, Sri Lanka lost Hasini Perera in the seventh over. However, Athapaththu steadied the innings with Harshitha Samarawickrama, adding 52 runs. But once Deepti bowled Athapaththu, the chase collapsed as wickets kept falling regularly. Their highest partnership after that was under 50. Nilakshika Silva (35 off 20 balls, 1 six, 4 fours) was the next best scorer. No one else reached 30.
For India, Deepti took 3 wickets, while Sneh Rana and Shreyanka Patil claimed two each. Amanjot and Pratika chipped in with one apiece.
Brief Scores
- India: 269/8 in 47 overs (Pratika 37, Mandhana 8, Harleen 48, Harmanpreet 21, Jemimah 0, Deepti 53, Richa 2, Amanjot 57, Sneh 28*; Inoka 9-0-46-4, Udeshika 10-1-55-2, Achini 8-0-42-1, Athapaththu 3-0-24-1).
- Sri Lanka: 211 in 45.4 overs (Hasini 14, Athapaththu 43, Harshitha 29, Vishmi 11, Kavisha 15, Nilakshika 35, Anushka 6, Sugandika 10, Achini 17, Udeshika 17*, Inoka 3; Deepti 10-0-54-3, Sneh 10-0-32-2, Shreyanka 8-0-37-2, Amanjot 6-0-37-1, Pratika 2.4-0-6-1).
Result: India won by 59 runs (DLS method).
Player of the Match: Deepti Sharma.
